Final look at “Art is…” comes to South Dakota Art Museum May 28

The South Dakota Art Museum Art Guild meets on Tuesday, May 28 to conclude its year of programming that has looked at what “Art is.” The morning event, open to the public, gathers for coffee and treats at 9:30 a.m. followed by a 10 a.m. presentation with representational artist Patricia Duncan describing her practice of using plein air pastel and oil painting to pursue her own passion to heal.

“I work off my life changing experience of losing my daughter Abbey,” said Duncan. “I combine my grief and loss with an understanding of human holism found in Adlerian psychology that uses artistic expression and movement to bring about wellness.”

Duncan grew up in Flandreau through 8th grade before moving to Sioux Falls where she graduated from O’Gorman High School. From there, she went to the University of Utah to earn a fine arts degree in ballet performance.

Her interest in ballet started with Nevorah Adams, who came from Brookings to the Flandreau Armory to teach young dancers ballet and tap. Duncan continued training in ballet when she moved to Sioux Falls and joined a ballet school started by a Russian couple.

After college graduation, she taught ballet while attending Control Data Institute for Computer Programming in Minneapolis. During her time in the Twin Cities, she reconnected and married her Flandreau childhood sweetheart, Ken Duncan. They settled in Bloomington where they raised five children that included a 4-year hiatus to live abroad in London, England.

Once her children were grown, she rekindled her lifelong desire for artistic expression by learning to paint plein air. Beginning at the Edina Art Center, she furthered her art education for nearly two decades under a nationally known plein air painter in pastels as well as a Danish/Flemish master to study still life and portrait work in oil. Her “working from life,” or plein air, painting focuses on landscapes, architecture, still life and figures.

Many of her painting subjects come from her home in the St. Croix Valley of Northwest Wisconsin where she also offers workshops and artist retreats. Her paints and canvases go with her to capture the moments and environments whenever and wherever she travels.

“An important part of painting plein air is the ability to see on a deeper level and listen carefully to what nature gives each of us,” she said. “Everything in nature is a gift and it becomes our responsibility to find beauty in even the most mundane or life-altering things.”

The South Dakota Art Museum is located at 1036 Medary Ave. in Brookings. Designated free parking is located on Harvey Dunn Street, just west of the museum.

For more information about Art Guild, please contact Jeanne Manzer at 605-691-1018. For
more information about the South Dakota Art Museum contact Carolyne Hart at 605-688-4313.

Photo: Patricia Duncan paints plein air, working from life, to capture the light as it reflects on the environment.